Molar Heat Capacities

❒ By heat capacity of a system we mean the capacity to absorb heat and store energy. As the system absorbs heat, it goes into the kinetic motion of the atoms and molecules contained in the system. This increased kinetic energy raises the temperature of the system.

❒ If q calories is the heat absorbed by mass m and the temperature rises from T₁ to T₂, the heat capacity (c) is given by the expression:

❒ Heat capacity of a system: is the heat absorbed by unit mass in raising the temperature by one degree (K or º C) at a specified temperature.

❒ When mass considered is 1 mole, the expression (1) can be written as:

where C is denoted as Molar heat capacity.

❒ The molar heat capacity of a system: is defined as the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one mole of the substance (system) by 1 K.

❒ Since the heat capacity (C) varies with temperature; its true value will be given as:

where dq is a small quantity of heat absorbed by the system, producing a small temperature rise dT.

❒ The molar heat capacity: may be defined as the ratio of the amount of heat absorbed to the rise in temperature.

Units of Heat Capacity

❒ The usual units of the molar heat capacity are calories per degree per mole (cal K^–1 mol^–1), or joules per degree per mole (J K^–1 mol^–1), the latter being the SI unit.

❒ Heat is not a state function, neither is heat capacity. It is, therefore, necessary to specify the process by which the temperature is raised by one degree.

❒ The two important types of molar heat capacities are those :

(1) at constant volume

(2) at constant pressure.

Molar Heat Capacity at Constant Volume

According to the first law of thermodynamics:

Dividing both sides by dT, we have:

At constant volume dV = 0, the equation reduces to:

The heat capacity at constant volume: is defined as the rate of change of internal energy with temperature at constant volume.

Molar Heat Capacity at Constant Pressure

Equation (2) above may be written as:

We know:

Differentiating this equation w.r.t T at constant pressure, we get:

comparing it with equation (3) we have:

The heat capacity at constant pressure: is defined as the rate of change of enthalpy with temperature at constant pressure.

Relation Between C_p and C_v

❒ From the definitions, it is clear that two heat capacities are not equal and C_p is greater than C_v by a factor which is related to the work done.

❒ At a constant pressure part of heat absorbed by the system is used up in increasing the internal energy of the system and the other for doing work by the system.

❒ While at constant volume the whole of heat absorbed is utilised in increasing the temperature of the system as there is no work done by the system. Thus increase in temperature of the system would be lesser at constant pressure than at constant volume. Thus C_p is greater than C_v.

We know:

By definition:

H = E + PV for 1 mole of an ideal gas

PV = RT

H = E + RT

Differentiating w.r.t. temperature, T, we get:

By using equations (1) and (2):

❒ Thus C_p is greater than C_v by a gas constant whose value is 1.987 cal K^–1 mol^–1 or 8.314 J K^–1 mol^–1 in S.I. units.

Calculation of ΔE and ΔH

(A) Calculation of ΔE :

For one mole of an ideal gas, we have:

For a finite change, we have:

and for n moles of an ideal gas we get:

(B) Calculation of ΔH :

We know

and for n moles of an ideal gas we get:

Solved Problem

Problem (1): Calculate the value of ΔE and ΔH on heating 64.0 g of oxygen from 0ºC to 100ºC. C_v and C_p on an average are 5.0 and 7.0 cal mol^–1 degree^–1.

Solution:

We know

Problem (2): Calculate the amount of heat necessary to raise 213.5 g of water from 25º to 100ºC. Molar heat capacity of water is 18 cal mol^–1 K^–1.

Solution:

By definition

Problem (3): Three moles of an ideal gas (Cv = 5 cal deg^–1 mol^–1) at 10.0 atm and 0º are converted to 2.0 atm at 50º. Find ΔE and ΔH for the change. R = 2 cal mol^–1 deg^–1

Solution:

Reference: Essentials of Physical Chemistry /Arun Bahl, B.S Bahl and G.D. Tuli / multicolour edition.

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